You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

Jessi Harris spent three decades living as a “trans man” before ultimately detransitioning. Her story is a powerful exploration of survival, discrimination, and the complex landscape of gender identity in late 20th-century America.What happens when the path you choose to escape discrimination becomes its own form of constraint? How do you make amends after years of unintentionally hurting those closest to you? Jessi's narrative takes us through her experiences as a lesbian in the 1970s and 80s, when being gay meant facing persistent harassment, job discrimination, and even the threat of losing custody of her child.Driven by a desire for safety and acceptance, Jessi “transitioned” in 1987, hoping to escape the intense discrimination she faced as a lesbian. Her journey reveals a stark reality: transitioning was never about truly wanting to be a man, but about survival. She navigated a world that was hostile to lesbian mothers, facing sexual assault, job loss, and repeated attempts to separate her from her daughter.For 30 years, Jessi lived as a “trans man,” experiencing significant medical consequences including heart attacks linked to testosterone use and vaginal atrophy that ultimately required a hysterectomy. Throughout this time, she never truly believed she was a man – she was simply trying to protect herself and her family.The most profound part of her story emerges in her detransition and the challenging process of making amends, particularly with her daughter. After years of separation, an honest apology became the bridge to rebuilding their relationship. Jessi's reflections offer a nuanced perspective on transition, highlighting the role of discrimination, survival instincts, and the importance of genuine accountability.Key questions we explore:How did systemic discrimination push lesbians towards transition?What are the long-term medical consequences of hormone therapy?How can families heal after years of complex gender-related trauma?What does true accountability look like in the aftermath of major life choices?Jessi's memoir is forthcoming, promising an even deeper dive into her extraordinary journey of survival, self-discovery, and reconciliation.Bringing a personal perspective to the conversation, Jessi Harris is a 69-year-old lesbian woman from the Pacific Northwest, who lived in transition for three decades before detransitioning in 2017 and retiring from her career in the medical field in 2021. Drawing on a complex life experience, she is now passionately committed to sharing her journey, offering perspective and support for women and girls contemplating or navigating the complexities of gender transition and detransition. Jessi is available for correspondence via email for those interested in connecting further about her story: no1nozz@gmail.com ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 AI assistant with the addition of RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard, which she has graciously agreed to let me borrow. The episode is called, Practical Strategies for Supporting Parents in Gender Distress Cases with Stephanie Winn, LMFT and it was originally released on Lisa’s show on December 4, 2024. If you’re a therapist, you can earn continuing education contact hours with Lisa’s NBCC-approved pod courses. Right now Lisa is offering my listeners an incredible deal - get all 27 podcourses for only $44. That could meet almost all of your continuing education needs for the year! Visit lisamustard.com/podcourses and use code SOMETHERAPIST to take $5 off of the $49 pod course bundle. ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some other great content created by my friends and colleagues. It’s my pleasure to share with you this audio essay by Maia Poet. It’s called Trans: When Coping Mechanism Becomes Identity; "When an Identity Takes Root"-- Gender Identity Ideation series, part 1. It was originally published on Maia’s Substack on April 22, 2025. Maia has shared her story on my podcast on episode 114. Breast-Binding in a Bomb Shelter? Maia Poet on Surviving War in the Middle East and Within. In the following audio essay, written and recorded by Maia, she does a fantastic job of explaining some concepts that are very much in alignment with my approach in ROGD Repair. Maia had hoped I would take the time to record my response thoughts in depth, but unfortunately I’m a bit too rushed getting everything ready for my vacation, so I’ll just say this. The essay is fantastic; we’re largely in agreement on most things; and my only real complaint about this whole piece is that she wasn’t yet familiar enough with the ROGD Repair toolkit to know that when she describes a need for emotionally intelligent, strategic coaching for parents who want to protect their kids’ long term health and wellbeing, this is exactly the kind of work I do... ...Which is why I've begun bringing Maia into the fold of what I'm doing with ROGD Repair. Students can access our first collaboration in this lesson. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Maia in the future. It’s exciting to see how she’s developing intellectually and how her parent coaching from the perspective of a young desister overlaps with the parent coaching I provide as a therapist-turned-consultant.You can follow Maia at maiapoet.substack.com. ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of Inciteful Sisters, which the hosts Jane and Bex have graciously agreed to let me borrow. The episode is called, episode 14: Stephanie Winn and the ROGD Repair Kit. It was originally released on Inciteful Sisters on May 1, 2025. Check out Inciteful Sisters wherever you get your podcasts.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of Resistance Radio, which the host Derrick Jensen has graciously agreed to let me borrow. It was originally released on Resistance Radio on February 12, 2024. Derrick has also appeared on my podcast on episode 106. Earth Day with Derrick Jensen: on Ecological Grief and Reconnecting with Our Wild Nature. I hope you enjoy our conversation. ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of Blended - Navigating the Blended Family Experience, which the host Jeremiah Wallace has graciously agreed to let me borrow. The episode is called, When Affirmation Goes too Far - with Stephanie Winn. It was originally released on Blended on August 14, 2024. Jeremiah has also appeared on my podcast on episode 75. Navigating the Blended Family Experience: Jeremiah Wallace on Step-Parenting, as well as on episode 115. Black Fatherhood in America Today with Adam B Coleman, Michael DC Bowen & Jeremiah Wallace. I hope you enjoy our conversation. ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of The Critical Therapy Antidote Podcast, which Jaco Van Zyl and Christine Sefein have graciously agreed to let me borrow. The episode is called, Stephanie Winn Discusses the Harms of Gender Affirming Care and it was originally released on the CTA Podcast on August 14, 2023. Jaco is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, who has appeared on my podcast on episode 140. Gender Dysphoria as a Mind-Body Problem: A Psychoanalytic Perspective with Jaco van Zyl. Christine is a former lecturer and Marriage and Family Therapist, who has appeared on episode 51. Wokeness Versus the Counseling Profession with Christine Sefein as well as on episode 99. Is Therapeutic Neutrality a Thing of the Past? with Christine Sefein and David Teachout. Together, Jaco and Christine are co-directors of Critical Therapy Antidote. Check out the CTA network.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

While I am on vacation this summer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to expose my listeners to some of the other podcasts I’ve been on as a guest. Please enjoy this episode of Virtuous Leaders with Dr. Johann D’Souza, which he has graciously agreed to let me borrow. The episode is called, Ep. 10 - Stephanie Winn, Protecting Children from Trans Activists and it was originally released on Virtuous Leaders on November 6, 2023. Dr. D’Souza has also appeared on my podcast in episode 94. Conquering OCD & Behavioral Addiction: the Power of Mindset, with Dr. Johann D’Souza. Check out Virtuous Leaders wherever you get your podcasts.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this discussion with Lisa Mustard, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and life coach, she unpacks the rising trend of family estrangement among young adults and its roots in political divides. Lisa shares innovative methods like 'podcourses' for therapist education, blending podcasting with self-study. They address challenges in therapy, including parenting styles and divorce impacts on children. The importance of resilience and selecting the right therapist fitting individual needs is emphasized, providing insights for fostering healthier family relationships.

Ryan Rogers, host of the Reality Therapy podcast and advocate for ethical mental health care, dives deep into the complexities of gender identity and the shortcomings of current therapeutic practices. He shares his journey to create a ROGD repair course for parents and addresses the rise of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria among youth. The discussion critiques the pressures faced by therapists in training and highlights the ethical dilemmas in guiding patients through gender transitions, emphasizing the need for authenticity and supportive community in mental health.